Tips and Tricks for Faster and More Efficient MT Post-Editing
If you’re just diving into MT post-editing, there’s a learning curve, but with the right mindset and techniques, you can quickly boost your speed and quality. Here are some battle-tested tips from the perspective of an experienced MT post-editor:
Efficiency Tips
These help you work faster without sacrificing quality.
– Skim First, Edit Second
Do a quick scan of the entire sentence (or paragraph) to grasp the meaning before editing. This helps avoid over-editing and keeps you focused on the message, not just the words.
– Don’t Aim for Perfection (Unless Asked)
Different jobs have different quality expectations:
Light post-editing = understandable and accurate.
Full post-editing = fluent, stylistically appropriate, and accurate. Know what’s required before you start.
– Use Shortcuts & Macros
Master keyboard shortcuts in your CAT tool. If you’re using something like Trados or MemoQ, things like “next segment,” “confirm,” or “copy source to target” should be second nature.
– Leverage Glossaries & TMs
Ensure consistent terminology by checking translation memories (TMs) and glossaries. Many errors happen when MT uses the wrong variant of a term you’ve already approved.
Use Find/Replace to correct terminology/spelling/capitalisation throughout the document.
– Correct Only What’s Necessary
If the sentence is grammatically correct and conveys the same meaning as the source, don’t change it just because it could be better. Be pragmatic.
Strategic Thinking
Approach post-editing like a language detective.
– Identify Common MT Patterns
Learn how your specific MT engine tends to make errors, for example:
Word order mistakes in German/Spanish.
Gender and agreement issues in French.
Dropped negations or missing articles in Slavic languages. Knowing these helps you spot them faster.
– Stay in the Target Language Mindset
Don’t translate literally. Read the MT output and ask yourself: “Would a native speaker say this?” If not, fix it.
Watch for “false fluency”. MT often produces fluent but factually wrong sentences. Always check against the source to make sure the meaning hasn’t drifted.
Tools & Environment
– Use QA Tools Religiously
Tools like Xbench or Verifika can catch consistency, terminology, punctuation, and number mismatches. Don’t rely only on your eyes.
Work in Focused Sprints
Try the Pomodoro technique (e.g., 25 minutes of focus, 5-minute break) to maintain energy and reduce burnout.
Mindset for Growth
– Keep a “Mistake Journal”
Track the types of edits you make frequently. You’ll notice patterns — maybe you’re always rewording passive constructions, or fixing MT’s handling of idioms. Spotting these helps you edit faster and more consciously.
– Ask for Feedback
If you’re working with an agency or team, ask to see reviewed segments. Learn from what you missed or over-edited.
Tool & Setup Hacks
– Dedicated Dual Monitors
If you have the option, use one screen for your CAT tool and the other for reference materials or QA tools. It cuts down on window-switching and mental fatigue.
– Pin Tabs for Your Reference Sites
Reserve a browser window for your top reference sites:
- Monolingual dictionaries
- Bilingual dictionaries
- Terminology databases or client glossaries
- Corpora
- If you are post-editing for a company, open its website for reference
– Use Clipboard Managers
Tools like ClipX, Ditto (Windows), or Paste (Mac) let you recall previous clipboard entries. Super helpful when juggling source-target text or when you need to re-use phrasing.
Set Up AutoCorrect or Text Expanders
Use something like PhraseExpress or TextExpander to insert frequently used corrections, phrases, or formatting with a few keystrokes.
Keep a Word file open with a paraphraser, such as Quillbot.
Translation Strategy Shortcuts
– Highlight First, Fix Later
If you’re unsure about something, highlight it, leave a quick comment or placeholder, and move on. It’s more efficient to keep your flow and return later.
– Batch Similar Segments
If your CAT tool lets you filter by content, isolate similar or repeated segments. Edit them in batches for speed and consistency.
– Check Numbers, Tags, and Formatting Early
MT often messes these up. Doing a “tag and number sweep” before you get deep into editing helps avoid last-minute stress.
– Trust but Verify Auto-Propagation
CAT tools often auto-fill repeated segments. Double-check those — MT can still make subtle mistakes that get replicated.
Cleanup & Final Pass
– Do a Monolingual Final Pass
Read your final translation without looking at the source to catch unnatural phrasing. If something sounds “off,” fix it.
– Use Read-Aloud Software
Listening to your translation (or reading it aloud yourself) helps catch awkward phrasing, missing words, or overly literal translations. Most operating systems have built-in TTS (text-to-speech).
Conclusion
Setting up an ideal working environment and using all available software tools will help you increase your speed and accuracy. Learning how to use them is, in most cases, straightforward, and experienced translators are already familiar with many of them. However, speed and efficiency necessitate forming the habit of using them.
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